WORKHOUSES

Officially workhouses were defined as places that could support paupers and poor people that couldn’t sustain themselves in board and lodging; the first workhouses dates back to 1652 in Exeter. There is however some written evidence that workhouses existed before this date; records mention a workhouse in 1631 in Abingdon.
In 1601 Queen Elizabeth made a new law about poor; in this law she made no mention about workhouses. Nevertheless the act stated that “materials should be bought to provide work for the unemployed able-bodied". The act did propose the building of housing for the impotent poor, which included the elderly and chronically sick.
The system was funded through rates, a local tax. The workhouse system began to evolve in the 17th century as a way for parishes to decrease the cost to rate-payers. This form of indoor relief was a deterrent to the able-bodied who were required to work usually without pay. The Workhouse Test Act made it possible for parishes to deny outdoor relief and only provide indoor relief.
The workhouse was not necessarily regarded as a place of punishment and some workhouses gained the nickname "Pauper palaces" because of their pleasant conditions.
The passing of the Workhouse Test Act in 1723, gave parishes the option of denying out-relief and offering claimants only the workhouse.
Gilbert's Act of 1782 simplified and standardized the procedures for parishes to set up and run workhouses, either on their own, or by forming a group of parishes called a Gilbert Union. Under Gilbert's scheme, able-bodied adult paupers would not be admitted to the workhouse, but were to be maintained by their parish until work could be found for them. Although relatively few workhouses were set up under Gilbert's scheme, the practice of supplementing labourers' wages out of the poor rate did become widely established.
Inmates were free to enter and leave as they liked and would receive free food and accommodation. Workhouse life was deliberately made as harsh and degrading as possible so that only the truly destitute would apply. Attempts were also made to provide moral guidance, training and education to the poor. Workhouse conditions were governed by the Consolidated General Order, a formidable series of rules governing every aspect of workhouse life such as diet, dress, education and discipline. The workhouse system underwent several administrative reforms and was abolished on 1st April 1930, being replaced by other social legislation for the unemployed and retired.

LORENZO QUERCIOLI & MATTEO RICOTTINI